Image courtesy: m43.eu.

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M43.eu (google translation here) posted the first website to post a full Panasonic 12-32mm lens review. As you know Panasonic claims that this is the best standard kit zoom of all mirrorless system (with standard they mean not “premium” zooms). And according to their test results Panasonic completely fulfills the promise. The lens is way better than the Olympus 12-50mm lens! If you consider the size of the Panasonic lens this is an incredible achievement. I would like Panasonic to sell the lens separately from the GM1 so that also current PEN or G camera owners can buy it!

Image courtesy: m43.eu.

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GM1 preorder list:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.

Dxomark (Click here) just tested the new Panasonic 20mm II lens and it’s a bit disappointing to see that the lens performs a tiny bit worse than the predecessor. Obviously the difference is negligible but Panasonic could have taken the chance to slightly improve the optical performance. DxO writes:

In reality, the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II ASPH performs very slightly differently to the original. It’s still an excellent lens, but it’s not quite the performer of it illustrious forebear.

Links to both old and new version of the lens: [shopcountry 14796].

Dpreview (Click here) published the full Panasonic GX7 review. It earned the “Silver Award” and that’s what DP thinks of the camera:

Panasonic has thrown virtually every possible feature into its DMC-GX7 mirrorless camera, and for the most part, they’ve succeeded. We like the photo and video quality, performance, customizable controls, and silent shooting mode. That said, the limitations on the in-body IS system, the tendency to close down the aperture in Program mode, and lack of in-camera Raw processing keep the GX7 from earning our highest recommendation.

GX7 store links: [shopcountry 40644]

Image courtesy: Photozone.

Photozone (Click here) tested the [shoplink 33626]Panasonic 35-100mm X zoom[/shoplink] and this is one of the very few lenses that gets the “Highly Recommended” mark! They write:

It is dead sharp in the image center and pretty good in the border region. Since distortions are auto-corrected, there is nothing to worry about here. You may spot some light falloff in the corners at f/2.8 but it’s not overly disturbing and gone from f/4 onward. Lateral CAs are quite low. The quality of the bokeh – a major aspect of a fast lens – is very good. The background blur is beautifully rendered and there’s almost no bokeh fringing.

Panasonic X zoom store search links: [shopcountry 33626].

First E-M1 and 12-40mm session by Pekka Potka (Click here):

They form a very balanced and capable tool. Of these two, maybe the lens is more important for me as it gives the best combination of portability, handling and optical performance for the focal length range I use most. E-M1 is in many ways an overkill for me. I need so few of it´s features. But on the other hand it surpasses E-M5 handling and performance in many areas which I find valuable. One feature which I find outstanding is the improved stabilization.

New review at The.me (Click here):

Overall conclusion: Very, very good. Almost impossible to disappoint. Olympus as I said has a long history. Without doubt it also has a long future.

Also Imaging Resource (Click here) posted their full E-M1 review:

The Olympus E-M1 delivers the sharpest, most detailed JPEGs we’ve seen from a Micro Four Thirds camera — if just by a hair over the E-M5 and E-P5 — with image quality that rivals that of most high-end APS-C DSLRs and CSCs. And despite its comparatively small chip size and 16-megapixel resolution, the E-M1 does especially well in low-light situations at high ISOs, with its JPEG processing outshining that of the top enthusiast,

The Olympus 12-40mm got tested at SLRgear (Click here):

Olympus has shown that it can make a lens with the optical quality as well as build quality that these users demand, and professional photographers such as photojournalists and adventure photographers should take note.

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E-M1 Preorder Links:
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL), WexUK, Topshot FI, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.

Dpreview (Click here) added the GM1 test scene samples and it looks like there is one small surprise. The images of the Gm1 appear to be tiny bit sharper than those of the GX7. Can’t say if that difference is here because of some slighty different test conditions or if the GM1 has indeed an improved processing engine.

GM1 preorder list:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.

This is Kai’s take on the new Olympus E-M1. He is not known to be a real MFT fan. I am glad to hear he changed a his mind thanks to the E-M1 :)

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E-M1 Preorder Links:
Olympus E-M1 body at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto, Amazon DE (via DL), Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL), WexUK, Topshot FI, CameraWorldUK.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO Lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, AmazonDE (viaDL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK and CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus E-M1 with 12-50mm Lens kit at Amazon DE (via DL), WexUK, CameraWorldUK, Amazon UK (via DL), Amazon ES (via DL).
Olympus EP-13 Eyecup for E-M1 at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus HLD-7 Battery Grip for E-M1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LC-62D Metal Front Lens Cap for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.
Olympus LH-66 Lens Hood for 12-40mm at Adorama and BHphoto.